De makers van het Apple-drama The Banker hebben gereageerd op de beschuldigingen dat de biopic over het leven van de Afro-Amerikaanse bankier Bernard Garrett (Anthony Mackie) niet waarheidsgetrouw zou zijn. Garretts dochter Cynthia beweert dat de film een vertekend beeld geeft van de feiten door te verzwijgen dat zij en haar andere broers en zussen seksueel misbruikt werden door hun halfbroer en producent Bernard Garrett Jr. In een brief van onder meer regisseur George Nolfi en hoofdrolspelers Mackie en Samuel L. Jackson staat te lezen dat de film gebaseerd is op interviews met Bernard Garrett en niet op de herinneringen van zijn kinderen. De makers van The Banker betuigen hun steun aan Cynthia Garrett, maar houden voet bij stuk dat de film een positieve emanciperende boodschap bevat. Lees de brief hieronder: We set out to tell a story we were very passionate about, recounting the remarkable lives of Bernard Garrett Sr and Joe Morris, and their ground-breaking achievements combating racial inequality in the 1950s and 60s. Though we have no way of knowing what may have transpired between Mr. Garrett’s children in the 1970s, including the allegations of abuse we have recently been made aware of, our hearts go out to anyone who has suffered. The film itself is not based on the recollections of any of Bernard Garrett Sr’s children, but rather, on recorded interviews with Bernard Garrett Sr himself, conducted in 1995, supported by congressional transcripts, court rulings, and other media articles from the era. We stand by the film, and its positive message of empowerment. Signed by: George Nolfi – Director, Producer, Writer Anthony Mackie – Actor, Producer Samuel L. Jackson – Actor, Executive Producer Nicholas Hoult – Actor Nia Long – Actor Scott Daniel Johnson – Actor Jessie T. Usher – Actor Colm Meaney – Actor Paul Ben-Victor – Actor James DuMont – Actor GregAlan Williams – Actor Bill Kelly – Actor Michael Harney – Actor David Maldonado – Actor Gralen Bryant Banks – Actor Rhoda Griffis – Actor Joel Viertel – Producer, Editor Brad Feinstein – Producer David Lewis Smith – Producer, Writer Will Greenfield – Executive Producer, Unit Production Manager Carlo Hart – Co-Producer Stan Younger – Writer Niceole Levy – Writer Brad Caleb Kane – Writer Charlotte Bruus Christensen – Director of Photography John Collins – Production Designer Aieisha Li – Costume Designer H. Scott Salinas – Composer Kim Coleman – Casting Director Tonya Cryer – Hair Department Head LaToya Henderson – Make-Up Department Head Stephen Moore – 1st Assistant Director Andi Crumbley – Art Director Lynne Mitchell – Set Decorator Mike Scherschel – Prop Master Kayla Gueho – Location Manager David Martin – Key Assistant Location Manager Harrison Huffman – Production Supervisor Huxley Rodriguez – Production Coordinator Serena Simpson – Sound Mixer Chris Birdsong – Key Grip Jon Lewis – Gaffer Karlyn Exantus – Script Supervisor Meagan Lewis – Local Casting Director Atlanta Mary Jasionowski – Production Accountant Chuck Jean – Post-Production Supervisor Gordon Williams – Music Supervisor Michael Hatzer – Supervising Digital Colorist David Christopher Smith – Sound Designer, Re-Recording Mixer Marti Humphrey – Supervising Sound Editor, Re-Recording Mixer Christian Wood – Visual Effects Supervisor Chris LeDoux – Associate Visual Effects Supervisor Cindy Rago – Visual Effects Producer Bron: IndieWire